The recent cold low-pressure system, which had such tragic consequences in eastern Spain, has been a striking phenomenon in the climate landscape, although there have been precedents in other parts of the world, such as Poland and Libya. The temperature of the surface layers of the Mediterranean is 2°C higher than in the final decades of the last century, a trend also seen in other seas around the world, such as the Caribbean, resulting in more powerful and frequent hurricanes. It is true that ‘cold drops’ have occurred regularly in our latitudes, but not on the current scale, with a front 200 kilometres wide that far exceeds seasonal episodes (10–20 kilometres) and occurs outside the usual season, generally at the end of summer. The amount of evaporated (and precipitable) water is very high, although we do not know how, where or when it will fall.

The 29th Climate Summit – held this time in Baku, Azerbaijan – took place at a time when greenhouse gas emissions have risen by 1.3 per cent and the global temperature has increased by 1.5°C, which paints a bleak picture, since, if we continue on this path, we will reach the end of the century with a temperature rise of 3.1°C, with the tragic consequences so often listed (extreme weather events, rising sea levels, disruption to ocean currents…), the full extent of which we are not yet fully aware. The fact is that what is at stake is not merely our quality of life, but our very survival, especially that of vulnerable populations.

It is good that 200 senior representatives from governments around the world are meeting to discuss the climate, provided that whatever is agreed is legally binding. Because if there is no monitoring or sanctions for unmet commitments, such meetings become ineffective. What is needed today is an end to fossil fuel subsidies (and their phasing out), the balanced roll-out of renewable energy, the establishment of a Climate Action Fund, the development of green hydrogen, the reduction of methane emissions from landfill sites and livestock farming, sustainable initiatives (such as the Harmoniya programme) for agriculture, resilient, green and healthy cities, the reduction of emissions from tourism, and the integration of water into climate policies.

We all have a stake in halting the climate crisis

There is still scope to cut emissions and avoid the worst-case scenarios of a phenomenon that would turn the planet into a hostile place. To achieve this, urgent action must be taken on all fronts, as we all have a distinct responsibility in the climate crisis: it is up to international conferences to reach global agreements and for states to implement them, but regional and local authorities must also fulfil their own responsibilities, by promoting energy-efficient housing and energy communities, devising plans to reduce motorised traffic, and encouraging urban renaturalisation – from school playgrounds to rivers and green belts – amongst other measures.

And, of course, citizens can contribute by ensuring their homes and workplaces are properly climate-controlled, sorting their waste, using public transport within and between cities, choosing healthy, locally sourced and seasonal food, and reducing their consumption in general, as behind every product (from a T-shirt to a mobile phone) lie significant amounts of energy and scarce resources.

It is up to all of us to halt the climate crisis. It is inextricably linked to structural injustice, get-rich-quick schemes, greed and inequality; therefore, the solutions must be both environmental and social: we cannot grow without limits. Nature is marvellous; it is a source of inspiration and life, a mother and a teacher, provided that its rhythms and laws are respected; otherwise, it can be fearsome. Only with a balanced climate can we have confidence in the future, and the time to act is now.

Article taken from Ethic magazine. Read the article